Abstract: An inbred maize line, designated NP2015, the plants and seeds of inbred maize line NP2015, methods for producing a maize plant produced by crossing the inbred line NP2015 with itself or with another maize plant, and hybrid maize seeds and plants produced by crossing the inbred line NP2015 with another maize line or plant.

Abstract: Disclosed is are gene sequences encoding &ggr;-tocopherol methyltransferases from photosynthetic organisms. The enzyme &ggr;-tocopherol methyltransferase catalyzes the methylation of &ggr;-tocopherol to yield &agr;-tocopherol, the most bioactive species of tocopherol. &ggr;-tocopherol methyltransferase is believed to be involved in regulating the relative amounts of the various tocopherols present in photosynthetic organisms. By introducing a genetic construct having a &ggr;-tocopherol methyltransferase coding sequence placed under the control of a plant promoter into a plant, transgenic plants can be made having altered &ggr;-tocopherol methyltransferase expression, to effect dramatic changes in the tocopherol profile of the plant. Transgenic plants can be made that have &agr;-tocopherol as the predominant tocopherol in their seeds and oils.

Abstract: The invention relates to cassettes for the expression of storable gene products in leaves and specifically in seeds, especially single-chain antibody fragments in leaves and seeds of transgenic tobacco and pea plants. The fields of application of the invention are biotechnology, medicine (diagnosis and therapy), foodstuffs and plant control and agriculture. The expression cassette of the invention comprises constitutive or seed-specific promoters, the LeB4 signal peptide, a gene to be expressed and an ER retention signal. Preference is given to an expression cassette containing the CaMV 35S promoter as the constitutive promoter, the gene for a single-chain antibody fragment as the gene and the amino acid sequence KDEL as the ER retention signal.

Abstract: Isolated nucleic acid molecules are provided that encode maize UDPGdH variant UDPGdH, and mutant UDPGdH proteins. These nucleic acid molecules can be used to produce transgenic plants having altered quality or quantity of starch. Also provided are vectors capable of expressing such nucleic acid molecules, host cells containing, such vectors, and polypeptides encoded by such nucleic acids.

Abstract: The present invention involves the isolation and characterization of the first discovered phytochrome-regulated transcriptional factor, a protein designated CCA1 which binds to the promoter region of the chlorophyll binding protein gene (Lhcb1*3) of Arabidopsis. The Lhcb1*3 gene of Arabidopsis is known to be regulated by phytochrome in etiolated seedlings where a brief illumination by red light results in a large increase in the level of mRNA from this gene. A DNA binding activity, designated CA-1, that interacts with the promoter region of Lhcb1*3 was previously discovered in cellular extracts. This binding activity was used to obtain a cDNA clone for a transcription factor that binds specifically to the Lhcb1*3 promoter. Modification of the expression of CCA1 using techniques of genetic engineering results in unexpected changes in the timing of plant flowering. When CCA1 is overexpressed, it appears that the normal circadian rhythms of the plant are disrupted.

Abstract: An isolated DNA sequence capable of serving as regulatory element in a chimeric gene which can be used for the transformation of plants is disclosed. A chimeric gene for the transformation of plants is also disclosed. The gene comprises at least, in the direction of transcription, a promoter sequence, a transgene and a regulatory element, characterized in that the regulatory element consists of at least one intron 1 in the noncoding 5′ region of a plant histone gene allowing the expression of the protein in the zones and undergoing rapid growth. The production of transgenic plants is also disclosed.

Abstract: A full length choline monooxygenase (CMO) cDNA was cloned from spinach and used to transform plants which do not naturally express CMO. A method is presented to improve stress tolerance of crops following engineering of CMO and BADH in plants that lack glycine betaine accumulation. Also provided are fragments useful as probes to isolate other CMO-type genes, and antisense sequences which inhibit the production of CMO. Reduction of glycine betaine as a consequence of antisense expression of CMO in species naturally accumulating glycine betaine, improves the transgenic plant's tolerance toward pathogens and pests and/or enhances its nutritional quality.

Abstract: Transgenic fluorescent Pseudomonas spp. are described which have a biosynthetic locus which encodes for the production of the antibiotic phenazine-1-carboxylic acid stably introduced into the genome, have a locus which encodes for the production of the antibiotic 2,4-diacetylphloroglucinol, and are effective for control of diseases caused by the soil-borne fungus, Rhizoctonia. Strains are also described which control diseases caused by Gaeumannomyces graminis or Pythium, in addition to Rhizoctonia, or have the ability to control all three diseases.

Abstract: The present invention provides genetically altered plants and plant cells that have been modified to contain expression system(s) capable of expressing a functional polyketide synthase (PKS). The present invention further provides methods of producing PKS and polyketides using these plants and cells.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an isolated protein or polypeptide which elicits a hypersensitive response in plants as well as an isolated DNA molecule which encodes the hypersensitive response eliciting protein or polypeptide. This isolated protein or polypeptide and the isolated DNA molecule can used to impart disease resistance to plants, to enhance plant growth, and/or to control insects on plants. This can be achieved by applying the hypersensitive response elicitor protein or polypeptide in a non-infectious form to plants or plant seeds under conditions effective to impart disease resistance, to enhance plant growth, and/or to control insects on plants or plants grown from the plant seeds.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing syringyl lignin in gymnosperms. The production of syringyl lignin in gymnosperms is accomplished by genetically transforming a gymnosperm genome, which does not normally contain genes which code for enzymes necessary for production of syringyl lignin, with DNA which codes for enzymes found in angiosperms associated with production of syringyl lignin. The expression of the inserted DNA is mediated using host promoter regions in the gymnosperm. In addition, genetic sequences which code for gymnosperm lignin anti-sense mRNA may be incorporated into the gymnosperm genome in order to suppress the formation of the less preferred forms of lignin in the gymnosperm such as guaiacyl lignin.

Abstract: The invention describes recombinant DNA molecules that allow expression of a deregulated or unregulated fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase (FBPase) in plant cells. Such expression leads to an increase in the photosynthesis rate and biomass production in photosynthetically active cells. Furthermore, the invention describes transgenic plants that show an increased photosynthesis rate due to the expression of a deregulated or unregulated FBPase.

Abstract: This invention relates to the isolation and characterization of a Polycomb gene from Arabidopsis with maternal control of embryogenesis. The novel gene and gene product may be used to manipulate embryo and endosperm cell proliferation for the generation of parthenocarpy, seed specific characteristics, inhibition of propagation of undesirable plants or apomixis in Arabidopsis and other plant types. Two mutations of this gene have also been identified which identify maternal effect embryo lethality.

Abstract: Improved compositions and methods for transformation and regeneration of plants from embryogenic callus are disclosed that include, for example: use of an intermediate-incubation medium after callus induction to increase the competence of the transformed cells for regeneration; dim light conditions during early phases of selection; use of green callus tissue as a target for microprojectile bombardment; and media with optimized levels of phytohormones and copper concentrations.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods for producing transgenic grapevines with resistance to a plant pathogen, the method includes: transforming a plant cell of the genus Vitis with a nucleic acid which expresses a lytic peptide, where the expression of the lytic peptide provides resistance to a plant pathogen.

Abstract: The tomato Cf-4 gene has been isolated by positional cloning and its sequence provided, along with the encoded amino acid sequence. DNA encoding the polypeptide, alleles, mutants and derivatives thereof, and DNA encoding amino acid sequences showing a significant degree of homology thereto may be introduced into plant cells and the encoded polypeptide expressed, conferring pathogen resistance on plants comprising such cells and descendants thereof. The Cf-4 sequence shows a high degree of homology to Cf-9 and comprises leucine rich repeats.

Abstract: The present invention provides isolated nucleic acid molecules comprising a polynucleotide sequence encoding a primary auxin response protein degradation signal linked to a heterologous eukaryotic polynucleotide sequence encoding a target polypeptide. Also provided are transgenic plants comprising an expression cassette comprising a polynucleotides of the invention. The invention further provides methods of targeting a recombinantly expressed target polypeptide in a plant for degradation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to any DNA sequence comprising as a coding region all or part of the nucleotidic sequence coding for a mRNA coding coding for a cinnamoyl CoA reductase (CCR) in lucern and/or corn, or all or part of the nucleotide sequence complementary of the latter and coding for an antisense mRNA susceptible of hybridizing with said mRNA. The invention also relates to the use of said sequences for implementing processes for the regulation of lignin biosynthesis in plants.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for the beneficial genetic transformation of plants based on transfer of genetic information mediated by mRNA rather than DNA. mRNA was extracted from the cotyledon and sprout of soybean and both mRNAs were separately used to treat corn kernels which were then planted. The results of protein extraction and analysis revealed that these corn kernels contained soy globulin. Furthermore, Southern and Western blotting techniques confirmed that this soy mRNA-induced soy globulin protein was encoded by soy DNA which was incorporated into the corn genome and transmitted to subsequent generations of corn.

Abstract: An inbred maize line, designated NP2115, the plants and seeds of inbred maize line NP2115, methods for producing a maize plant produced by crossing the inbred line NP2115 with itself or with another maize plant, and hybrid maize seeds and plants produced by crossing the inbred line NP2115 with another maize line or plant.